Shoe guard



F. E. BIRD, .JR

Oct. 31, 1961 SHOE GUARD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 3l, 1960 FIGB.

FIGS.

lNVENTORI FRANK E. BIRD, JR, Y //vwwrf/ ATTYS.

Cet. 31, 1961 F. E. BIRD, JR 3,006,086

SHOE GUARD I Filed March 3l, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 7.

INVENTOR: FRANK E. B|RD,JR.

ATTYS.

States The present invention relates to new and useful improvements inprotective attachments for footwear and more specifically to a novelprotective device adapted to be adjustably and detachably mounted on ashoe to protect the metatarsal area of the foot.

This application is a continuation-impart of .my copendinv applicationSerial No. 782,715, tiled December 24, 1958, now abandoned.

The risk of injury to the metatarsal area of the foot has beenrecognized in many phases of industry. The solution of the problem hasprompted development of numerous protective devices that have hadvarying degrees of success. However, the devices have generally fallenshort of satisfactory solution of the problem for a variety of reasons.Some, because of their complicated and cumbersome construction areuncomfortable and do not permit sucient freedom of the foot when thewearer is engaged in normal movements required by the job, as forexample stooping or climbing and consequently have been rejected orshunned by the Worker. Others, because of their bulky and awkwardassembly present tripping and catch point hazards.

The present invention overcomes the objectionable features enumeratedabove by providing a protective device that may be readily and easilyapplied to and removed from any type of laced shoe and one wherein theoptimum features of maximum protection and free mobility are assured.

With the foregoing in mind the principal object of the present inventionis to provide a protective foot guard that may be detachably andadjustably secured to any type of laced shoe or the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel detachablefoot guard which may -be readily adjusted with respect to the shoe towhich it is attached to insure complete coverage of the desired area ofthe foot.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective guardthat may be attached and detached with a minimum of effort and whose usedoes not interfere with the normal lacing of the shoe.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a protectiveguard for shoes that may be detached without requiring the shoe to beunlaced and which may be used repeatedly long after the life of aparticular pair of shoes.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide arelatively simple, economic and comfortable protective guard for shoescomprising an outer shell having shock absorbing qualities and acushion-like inner portion that conforms generally to the contour of thefoot.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel shoe guardof the above type which is held securely against the shoe but which hassuicien-t freedom of movement to permit free flexing and use of theshoe.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a novelshoe guard having the features and charcteristics set -forth above whichmay be manufactured easily and cheaply, is of relatively simpliedconstruction, and is entirely efiicient and effective.

These and other objects of the present invention and the variousfeatures and details of the operation and construction thereof arehereinafter more fully set forth and described with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a perspective view showing a protective guard made inaccordance with the present invention applied to a Work shoe;

FlG. 2 is a perspective View showing the guard in a position partiallyremoved from a shoe;

FIG. 3 is a top plan View of the protective guard of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line 4-4, FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5 5, FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective View of the protective plate remo-ved from itscovering;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a modified form of a shoeguard of the present invention applied to a work shoe;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 7 illustrating the guard ina position partially removed from the shoe;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the guard of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the guard of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 1l is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 11-11, FIG. l0.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10designates generally a protector or guard in accordance with the presentinvention detachably secured to a shoe 11. The guard 10 comprisesgenerally a rigid plate 12 and a cushion member or pad 13 housed orcontained within a flexible envelope 14.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the plate may have curved side edge portionsextending downwardly away from the central axis of the plate and may beconvexly curved along its lengt-h to conform generally to the contour ofthe metatarsal area of the foot. The plate 12 is constructed preferablyof a lightweight tough resilient material with sufficient rigidity toresist severe deformation but resilient enough to allow for a slightdeformation to thereby preclude fracturing when subjected to areasonably severe shock stress from a falling weight. The plate 12 maybe formed, if desired, of a plastic material such as a phenolic resin orof any other material having the characteristics enumerated above suchas certain metals or certain plastic materials.

The cushion member or pad -13 comprises a layer of sponge-like shockabsorbing material such as cellular neoprene shaped to follow thecontour of the metatarsal area of the foot. The outer periphery of thepad 13- extends beyond the periphery of lche plate member 12 and may betapered completely about its periphery as indicated at 13a to facilitateinsertion into the envelope and present a neat appearance to theenvelope 14. The cushion member 13 is preferably secured to the concaveor underside of the plate 12 by means of a glue or cement.

The envelope 14 -for housing or containing the plate 12 and pad 13comprises upper and lower covers 15 and 16, respectively, made forexample of flexible leather and stitched together at their outerperiphery. The envelope 14 may be stitched along the bottom and sideedges to form an open -top pocket so that the plate and cushion may beremoved and used again when the envelope becomes damaged or Worn orconversely the plate and pad maybe replaced if damaged. The cushionmember 13 is preferably secured to the lower cover 16 of the envelopefor example, by cement or glue, to thereby minimize movement of theprotector with respect to the shoe.

In accordance with the present invention means are provided toadjustably and detachably secure the pro- 1 secured to the outer surfaceof the envelope. The buckle 18 is secured to the upper cover of theenvelope approximately on the center line thereof and faces toward theupper end of the protector. The strap 17 is secured to the lower coverof the envelope at about the mid-point thereof and extendslongitudinally thereof beyond the upper edge. The strap is provided witha plurality of perforations 19 so that it may be placed under the lacesof the shoe and be engaged in the buckle to thereby removably andadjustably mount the protector on a shoe. Thus when applied to a shoe,as shown in FlG. 2, it may be seen that the strap engages under thelaces 20 of the shoe and secures the shoe portion from approximately themid-point of the protector to the top edge thereof rather snugly to theshoe while the front half overlies the front portion of the shoeprotecting the metatarsal portion ofthe foot and providing a measure ofmobility when performing normal foot movements. Additionally, it isapparent that the protector may be adjustably positioned with respect tothe shoe by engaging the strap under the appropifiate laces so lthat theprotector covers'the desired porion of the foot regardless of the sizeof the shoe.

Although the illustrated embodiment shows the protective device appliedto a laced high-top working shoe, it is to be understood that the devicemay be used as effectively lwith many other types of shoes. Withreference to FIG. l, it may be seen that the guard can be positioned sothat the front .portion lies adjacent the back edge of the `steel capportion of a common work shoe while the top of the guard extends to apoint nearest the highest eyelets of the shoe. The Width of the guardmay be slightly broader at the bottom half so that it substantiallycovers the upper surface of the instep or metatarsal area of the foot.When used with shoes that do not have in their construction the steeltoe, it is possible by repositioning the strap under the lower laceportion of the shoe to afford protection for the toes.

As illustrated in FIGS. l and 2, the protective device may be applied tothe shoe in the following fashion. The strap is placed over the tongueof the shoe and beneath the desired portion of the lacing 20. After theshoe is laced as tightly as the wearer desires, the guard is secured inthe position illustrated in FIG. 1 over the laces by means of the strapand 4buckle assembly so that the lowermost portion of the lacing engagedby the strap is at the junction between the strap and the lower cover16. This attachment of the guard maybe comparatively loose since it isonly desired to retain the protective guard over the instep withoutimpairing walking ease.

A modified form of the shoe guard olf the present invention isillustrated in FIGS. 7 to il, inclusive, of the drawings. In thisembodiment a shoe guard, designated generally as 25, is adapted `to bedetachably secured to a shoe 26. The guard 25 comprises a rigid curvedplate 27 formed of any desired rigid material such as stainless steeland the like, shaped as indicated in FIG. 7 to extend across the toeportion of the shoe from one side of the shoe to the other andterminating closely :adjacent to the sole of the shoe. Additionally, theguard extends upwardly along the shoe covering the upper end of theshoe. If desired, the upper and lower ends of the plate 27 may terminatein upwardly flared end portions 28 and 29, respectively, to prevent theplate from digging into or marking the shoe upon `application of heavypressures on the plate.

In accordance 'with the present invention a cushion or pad 31 is securedto the under side of the plate 27 and adapted to engage the shoe tocushion shock forces exerted on the plate. The cushion or pad 31 issecured to the underside of the plate, for example, by means of glue orcement and conforms generally to the contour of the plate.

An important feature of the present invention is the provision of meansto adjustably and detachably secure the shoe guard to a shoe. To thisend, fastening means, generally similar to that described in theembodiment of FIGS. l to 6, inclusive, is provided. This fastening meansmay comprise a strap 32 which is secured to the lower surface of theplate 27 adjacent the lower end of the shoe guard, for example, by meansof a pair of rivets 33 with the lower end of the strap being positionedbetween the plate 27 and the cushion 31. A strap 32 extends outwardlythrough an opening 34 provided in the cushion 31 and then passesupwardly adjacent the underside of the cushion 31 as illustrated in FIG.l0.

In order to secure the shoe guard 25 to the shoe 26 the strap 32 ispositioned beneath the laces 3B of the shoe as illustrated in FIG. 8 ofthe drawings and passed upwardly along the shoe beneath one or morecross bars of the laces. The end of the strap is then pulled upwardlyaway from the shoe and passed through the lowermost opening of a pair ofopenings 35, 35 provided centrally of the upper portion of the plate.Thereafter, the free end of the strap is passed downwardly through theupperymost opening of the pair of openings 35, and the strap is pulledtight thereby positioning the guard in the desired relation relative tothe shoe and also securing the guard to the shoe. The position of theguard relative to the shoe may be adjustedby the user by varying theposition at which the strap is passed beneath the laces kand byadjusting the position of the strap in the opening In this embodiment ofthe present invention, the fastening means is attached directly to theplate instead of to a separate envelope which contains the plate as inthe embodiment of FIGS. l to 6, thereby eliminating the need for theenvelope and decreasing the cost of the guard.

From the foregoing, it may 'be seen that the present invention providesan easily and readily detachable and adjustable protective guard for useprimarily on Working shoes. The device is especially advantageous anduseful in this respect in that unlike prior devices of this type it isreadily accepted by wearers seeking protection of this area of the footin that it affords him maximum protection while usinrr the devicewithout impairing his movements during normal. routine actions on thejob. Additionally, because of the ease with which it may be applied andremoved the wearer is not restricted in his choice of shoes to one thatmay be used solely at work. For example, it may be readily seen thatshoes may be worn to work without the guard and the guard quickly'attached to and removed from the shoes.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have `beenillustrated and described herein, it is not intended to limit theinvention to sucn a disclosure and changes and modiiications may beincorporated and embodied therein within the scope of the followingclaims.

I claim:

l. A guard adapted to be adjustably and detachably secured to a shoe toprotect the metatarsal area of the foot comprising a rigid plate membershaped to conform generally to the rnetatarsal area of the foot, a shockabsorbent pad secured to the underside of said plate member andconforming to the shape of said plate member, said plate and pad adaptedto overlie and cover the shoe at the metatarsal area of the foot, andadjustable fastening means comprising a flexible member secured to theunderside of said plate and adapted to engage said shoe in the portionof said shoe covered by said plate and pad to detachably secure saidplate and pad to said shoe with the pad in engagement with said shoe.

2. A guard adapted to be adjustably and detachably secured to a shoe toprotect the metatarsal area of the foot comprising a rigid plate membershaped to conform generally to the metatarsal area of the foot, a shockabsorbent pad secured to the underside of said plate member andconforming to the shape of said plate member, said plate and padadapted. to overlie and cover the shoe at the metatarsal area of thefoot, and adjustable fastening means comprising a flexible memberinterconnected with said plate and adapted to overlie said shoe andengage said shoe at the portion of said shoe covered 5 by said plate andpad to detachably secure said plate and pad to said shoe.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said adjustablefastening means is secured to the underside of said plate atsubstantially the mid-point thereof and is adapted to be detachablysecured beneath laces on said shoe to detachably secure said plate andpad to said shoe.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said adjustablefastening means comprises a exible strap having one end thereof securedto the underside of said plate at substantially the mid-point of saidplate, and wherein means are provided at the upper side of said platewithin which the other end of said strap may be engaged and secured.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said adjustablefastening means includes a flexible envelope completely enclosing saidplate and pad and a flexible strap having one end thereof secured to theunderside of said envelope and adapted to engage said shoe at theportion of said shoe covered by said plate and pad to detachably securesaid plate and pad to said shoe.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,712,185 Corrigan July 5, 1955 2,829,449l Edwards et al. Apr. 8, 19582,842,872 Shultz July 15, 1958

